During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? How and when does your CT establish order and begin class? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson?
Observations:
At the start of the class, my CT stands at the front of the class and greets the students as they enter the classroom.She guides them into the room and to their tables accordingly. At the start of the day my CT, Mrs. A, writes the agenda for the day on the board as a numbered list. This section usually starts with some kind of homework check and discussion of the previous meeting's work. She also has a 'What now?' section on the board that gives students directions on what they can do once they enter the classroom and are getting settled at their tables. This section usually contains directions for getting out the previous night's homework, getting out any materials they may need to use during that days class (graphs, rulers, calculators). Once the students are seated and Mrs. A is ready to start class, she usually tells the students that she's ready to begin class and reminds them of what they should have out and ready. Sometimes Mrs. A has the students take out their homework and will come by and check it for completion during an in class activity or she will have them hand it in at the start of class. Mrs. A starts discussing the homework and then moves into whatever the activity for that day is. She engages her students by asking them questions relating to that days activities. These questions usually pertain to previous knowledge they have learned and can be applied the new information they will learn that day. In this particular class the students were testing how boys and girls reaction times differ. They performed one test previously and were going to perform another one over the next few classes. She asked her students what worked in the previous test and what they should change for the second test. This got them interested in performing the second test and seeing how their results would change.
Reflections:
Mrs. A's has very effective ways of opening her classes. I feel that the way she organizes her white board is excellent. This is something that is consistent throughout the classes and the students can expect this every class period. The 'What now?' is very helpful for the students because the start of class can be very chaotic and this way the students can look at this every time they enter the class and know what is expected of them by the start of the class. The agenda section is also very helpful for both the students and for the teacher. This allows everyone to know what the agenda will be for that day and what will be expected of them and keep everyone on track.
Mrs. A will usually walk around and check their homework for completion. This allows her to talk with each student with their progress and any problems and/or compliments on their work. While this is occurring, the students are working on an in-class activity. While Mrs. A is checking the homework, it also allows her to check-in with how the students are doing with the activity and if they have any questions and are staying on track.
Overall, Mrs. A opens her class in an effective manner and the students respond to her and her activities positively.
Class Topic: Writing a Procedure
Grade: 7
Observed by: Jillian Boisse
Observations:
At the start of the class, my CT stands at the front of the class and greets the students as they enter the classroom.She guides them into the room and to their tables accordingly. At the start of the day my CT, Mrs. A, writes the agenda for the day on the board as a numbered list. This section usually starts with some kind of homework check and discussion of the previous meeting's work. She also has a 'What now?' section on the board that gives students directions on what they can do once they enter the classroom and are getting settled at their tables. This section usually contains directions for getting out the previous night's homework, getting out any materials they may need to use during that days class (graphs, rulers, calculators). Once the students are seated and Mrs. A is ready to start class, she usually tells the students that she's ready to begin class and reminds them of what they should have out and ready. Sometimes Mrs. A has the students take out their homework and will come by and check it for completion during an in class activity or she will have them hand it in at the start of class. Mrs. A starts discussing the homework and then moves into whatever the activity for that day is. She engages her students by asking them questions relating to that days activities. These questions usually pertain to previous knowledge they have learned and can be applied the new information they will learn that day. In this particular class the students were testing how boys and girls reaction times differ. They performed one test previously and were going to perform another one over the next few classes. She asked her students what worked in the previous test and what they should change for the second test. This got them interested in performing the second test and seeing how their results would change.Reflections:
Mrs. A's has very effective ways of opening her classes. I feel that the way she organizes her white board is excellent. This is something that is consistent throughout the classes and the students can expect this every class period. The 'What now?' is very helpful for the students because the start of class can be very chaotic and this way the students can look at this every time they enter the class and know what is expected of them by the start of the class. The agenda section is also very helpful for both the students and for the teacher. This allows everyone to know what the agenda will be for that day and what will be expected of them and keep everyone on track.Mrs. A will usually walk around and check their homework for completion. This allows her to talk with each student with their progress and any problems and/or compliments on their work. While this is occurring, the students are working on an in-class activity. While Mrs. A is checking the homework, it also allows her to check-in with how the students are doing with the activity and if they have any questions and are staying on track.
Overall, Mrs. A opens her class in an effective manner and the students respond to her and her activities positively.
Class Topic: Writing a Procedure
Grade: 7
Observed by: Jillian Boisse